PU cracks down on Goa dreams: Student trips now restricted to approved destinations

Time of India

17-05-2025

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Chandigarh: The days of Goa plans being made, trip posters plastered across notice boards, and Instagram stories filled with beach countdowns will soon be over at Panjab University.
The university has rolled out strict new guidelines for student council-organised trips, barring the council from choosing destinations on their own and enforcing faculty-led oversight.
Based on recommendations by a committee headed by Prof Nandita Singh, the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) are aimed at regulating student trips that had, in recent years, become loosely organised events often featuring non-students and conducted without faculty supervision.
Posters for such trips — often to places like Goa, Manali or Rishikesh — would appear overnight in various notice boards and student centre without any formal approval.
Now, all student council trips must be confined to a list of university-approved destinations that reflect cultural, historical, or academic value. These include the Partition Museum and Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Ranthambore National Park, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda University, Science City Kapurthala, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Shri Vaishno Devi Temple and a few others.
Each elected office-bearer of the Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) will be allowed to organise just one trip in their term. The preference order will begin with the president, followed by the secretary, vice-president, and joint secretary. Departments must verify the list of participating students, and both the student and their parents are required to submit undertakings before the trip. These documents are to be deposited with the Dean Student Welfare (DSW) office in advance.
DSW Prof Amit Chauhan confirmed that all such trips will be monitored closely. "Every council trip will now have one male and one female warden accompanying the students. This is to ensure discipline and safety at all times," he said.
Importantly, the funds for these trips will be drawn from the student council budget, but will be allocated only after clearance from the DSW office. Final permission must be granted by the Vice-Chancellor or DUI, based on the DSW's recommendation and a verified list of participants.
Officials say the move is intended to bring structure and accountability to council activities, which had become informal and, at times, problematic. "Trips must serve an academic or cultural purpose. They are not meant to be recreational holidays run like travel agency packages," said a university official familiar with the policy shift.
This is part of a wider clampdown by the administration on student-led events.
Similar SOPs have also been introduced for other events, booking of auditoriums, and cultural events held at the Student Centre.
At a glance: New PUCSC trip guidelines
Only 1 trip allowed per PUCSC office-bearer
Destinations restricted to university-approved sites (e.g., Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda)
No more self-chosen trips to Goa, Manali etc.
Participant lists must be verified by departments
Student and parental undertakings mandatory
Male and female wardens to accompany all trips
Trips funded from student council budget, but only after DSW clearance
Final approval to be given by VC or DUI on DSW recommendation
Chandigarh: The days of Goa plans being made, trip posters plastered across notice boards, and Instagram stories filled with beach countdowns will soon be over at Panjab University.
The university has rolled out strict new guidelines for student council-organised trips, barring the council from choosing destinations on their own and enforcing faculty-led oversight.
Based on recommendations by a committee headed by Prof Nandita Singh, the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) are aimed at regulating student trips that had, in recent years, become loosely organised events often featuring non-students and conducted without faculty supervision.
Posters for such trips — often to places like Goa, Manali or Rishikesh — would appear overnight in various notice boards and student centre without any formal approval.
Now, all student council trips must be confined to a list of university-approved destinations that reflect cultural, historical, or academic value. These include the Partition Museum and Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Ranthambore National Park, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda University, Science City Kapurthala, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Shri Vaishno Devi Temple and a few others.
Each elected office-bearer of the Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) will be allowed to organise just one trip in their term. The preference order will begin with the president, followed by the secretary, vice-president, and joint secretary. Departments must verify the list of participating students, and both the student and their parents are required to submit undertakings before the trip. These documents are to be deposited with the Dean Student Welfare (DSW) office in advance.
DSW Prof Amit Chauhan confirmed that all such trips will be monitored closely. "Every council trip will now have one male and one female warden accompanying the students. This is to ensure discipline and safety at all times," he said.
Importantly, the funds for these trips will be drawn from the student council budget, but will be allocated only after clearance from the DSW office. Final permission must be granted by the Vice-Chancellor or DUI, based on the DSW's recommendation and a verified list of participants.
Officials say the move is intended to bring structure and accountability to council activities, which had become informal and, at times, problematic. "Trips must serve an academic or cultural purpose. They are not meant to be recreational holidays run like travel agency packages," said a university official familiar with the policy shift.
This is part of a wider clampdown by the administration on student-led events.
Similar SOPs have also been introduced for other events, booking of auditoriums, and cultural events held at the Student Centre.
At a glance: New PUCSC trip guidelines
Only 1 trip allowed per PUCSC office-bearer
Destinations restricted to university-approved sites (e.g., Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda)
No more self-chosen trips to Goa, Manali etc.
Participant lists must be verified by departments
Student and parental undertakings mandatory
Male and female wardens to accompany all trips
Trips funded from student council budget, but only after DSW clearance
Final approval to be given by VC or DUI on DSW recommendation